Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Werner Krenzer Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Service Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Korea; Taiwan; Pakistan; Philippines; Japan; Rome, Italy; United States
- Highest Rank: Sergeant First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/10944
Werner Krenzer was a veteran of two wars who never fired a shot but was immortalized in a TV drama. He was born in Germany in 1926; his family emigrated to America following Hitler's rise to power. He was made an American citizen after he was drafted to serve in the latter days of WWII. Krenzer re-enlisted after that war ended and during the Korean War, he was assigned to work with orphaned Korean children. His persistence and tireless devotion to the children did not go unnoticed. Several magazines told his story, and a TV producer soon contacted him for permission to portray his work. In 1955, the Armstrong Circle Theater presented "The Strange War of Werner Krenzer," with Richard Kiley. Krenzer's collection includes a complete version of the program.
TV program "The Strange War of Sergeant Krenzer".
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Werner Krenzer Collection
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PlayIn the Philippines in summer 1945 as a replacement soldier in the infantry; when he heard about the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, he wondered if the fallout would reach the islands; instead of going home, his unit went to Japan as part of the occupation; returned to US in 1947, when he re-enlisted; at outset of Korean War, he was part of the honor escort which accompanied the remains of the war dead when they came into New York City to the proper cemetery in the U.S. 00:36:54.0 - 00:39:46.4
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PlayCalled to duty in Korea, landing in Pusan in November 1952; assigned to UNCACK, United Nations Civil Assistance Command Korea, a civilian group; put on a security assignment as a classified courier which required a lot of flying time over water; told (but not trained) to use a parachute, which he never had to do; assigned to civilian aid work with orphans; his work got noticed and written up back in the States in several different outlets; began receiving letters of support; he had found a way to feed the orphans; had 34 orphanages set up by the time he left to go back to the U.S.; a TV show in 1955 dramatized his story, with Richard Kiley playing Krenzer; assigned to Military Assistance Groups in Taiwan and Pakistan, doing the same kind of work; met a German missionary nurse who would become his wife in 1958. 00:40:51.0 - 00:54:13.5
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PlayAfter final assignment in Rome, retired from the military in 1965; is still astounded at how lucky he was to be in the right place so many times. 00:56:14.2 - 00:58:15.4
Werner Krenzer Collection
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Werner Krenzer Collection
Names
- DAR-Chevy Chase, Maryland Chapter
- Daughters of the American Revolution, Chevy Chase, Maryland Chapter
- Scanlin, Marilyn Sue
- Krenzer, Werner
Home State
- South Carolina
Headings
- - Krenzer, Werner
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Service Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Philippines; Japan; Rome, Italy; United States
- Highest Rank: Sergeant First Class
- Dates of Service: 1944-1947
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Location of Service: Korea; Taiwan; Pakistan
- Dates of Service: 1946-1965
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 2003-05-31)
- Audio: CD [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected 2003-02-17; 2009-08-20)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2010)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-02-17)
- Manuscript: Clippings [8 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 2005)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [9 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [5 items] -- Photograph (collected 1944-2003)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Television broadcast (collected 2003-05-31)
- Audio: Microcassette [2 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-02-17)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/10944
Cite as
- Werner Krenzer Collection (AFC/2001/001/10944), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- online text
- image
- audio
- video